The Rising Leader

 Ever feel like all the self-improvement advice out there is just noise—one source claims broccoli is a health hazard: another calls it a superfood? Today, I’m peeling back the layers on true holistic wellness with someone who believes transformation isn’t just physical, but mental, emotional, and even spiritual. In this episode, I sit down with Mark Anderson, a renowned personal trainer and biohacking expert, to explore the “diamond” of being human. Together, we dive into why people suffer, the trap of constantly chasing “more,” and the practical steps executives (and anyone) can take to rise above overwhelm, calm the nervous system, and step into their highest potential. Mark Anderson is a functional personal trainer with over 15 years of experience, an expert in high performance, biohacking, and mindset coaching. His journey began in the military, shifted to defense contracting, and ultimately led him to pursue his passion for integrative wellness. Mark is passionate about helping people break free from the cycle of stress and suffering by designing individualized routines that address the mind, body, and spirit. He works with diverse clients, from high-powered executives to anyone ready for real, rooted transformation. “You can do breath work whenever you want. Breath is free, and it can take you  from a high-stress state to calm.” ~ Mark Anderson This Week on The Rising Leader:·     Suffering is often rooted in being stuck in the “3D”—chasing material things, more money, or status, instead of addressing deeper needs. ·     True wellness and transformation require starting with basics: sleep, breathing, and mindfulness—tools accessible to everyone. ·     Conscious breathwork is a powerful, underutilized way to reset the nervous system, become present, and access creativity. ·     Most people operate on autopilot; interrupting old patterns with simple practices (like pausing or conscious breathing) sets the foundation for personal change. ·     High performers and executives are still human, subject to the same stress and feeling of overwhelm as anyone else—they just need the right tools. ·     Physical movement is important for fitness, mental, and emotional health. Our bodies are made to move. ·     Change doesn’t need to be drastic. Start with small pattern interrupts—like reframing your reaction to traffic or the weather—and build from there. ·     Genuine transformation comes from curiosity, awareness, and a willingness to experiment with what brings one back to oneself. Find More of Mark Anderson:● Instagram: @markanderson_mwa ● Website: mwafitness.com Resources Mentioned:● Breathwork routines (demo included in the episode—rewind and practice!) ● PEMF mats, movement walks, and other biohacking tools for holistic wellness Grab Your Copy of The Rising Leader Handbook Do you find yourself rising through your company's ranks so fast that you wish you had a manual to become an effective leader? Then, The Rising Leader Handbook is right for you. In The Rising Leader Handbook, you’ll learn how to shift your perspective and gain the leadership skills you need, regardless of the breadth of your responsibilities, by leveraging the relationships you’ve built with the CEO, the Leadership Team, and the team you lead as well as your relationship with yourself.Visit The Rising Leader Handbook: Turning High Achievers into Effective Leaders to grab your copy and start mastering your skills to become your team leader. Leader, It’s Time to Rise! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Rising Leader Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeart Radio Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more listeners like you. Join me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website.

You’ve heard it before—your reputation precedes you. But how often do you really consider how your reputation is judged by everyone across your organization, not just your direct boss or team? In this episode, I dive into the critical connection between your reputation and your relationships, revealing why what others say about you when you’re not in the room can alter your career path. I unpack the art of being a trusted advisor, the importance of accessibility and warmth, especially for high achievers, and offer actionable strategies to build support throughout your organization so you’re the person everyone wants to see win."When things are going to shit, you're not a bull in a china closet. You're still supportive, you're still respectful to everybody."This week on The Rising Leader:·     Step into leadership by being the go-to person who takes ownership and eases your boss’s challenges·     Build win-win relationships with your peers on the leadership team—cooperation beats competition·     Your reputation is shaped by every interaction, across every level of the organization·     High-performing individuals can unintentionally intimidate; leading with warmth and accessibility counters this·     Promotion decisions are rarely made in isolation—everyone’s opinion matters·     Remaining steady, respectful, and supportive even during tough times differentiates leaders from doers·     Being a reliable supporter in moments of uncertainty makes you indispensable·     Offering help proactively, especially when others are struggling, forges a legacy of trust and respectGrab Your Copy of The Rising Leader Handbook Do you find yourself rising through your company's ranks so fast that you wish you had a manual to become an effective leader? Then, The Rising Leader Handbook is right for you. In The Rising Leader Handbook, you’ll learn how to shift your perspective and gain the leadership skills you need, regardless of the breadth of your responsibilities, by leveraging the relationships you’ve built with the CEO, the Leadership Team, and the team you lead as well as your relationship with yourself.Visit The Rising Leader Handbook: Turning High Achievers into Effective Leaders to grab your copy and start mastering your skills to become your team leader.Leader, It’s Time to Rise! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Rising Leader Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeart Radio Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more listeners like you. Join me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website.

 Have you ever found yourself butting heads with a peer at work, knowing you need to escalate the disagreement up the ladder, but unsure how to do it without leaving a trail of drama or broken trust? This week, I’m joined again by my close friend and leadership expert Helen Appleby for a candid conversation on “clean” and “dirty” escalations. We unpack what it means to disagree well, the cost of toxic escalation, and how true leaders keep the organization’s health front and center, no matter how high the stakes. Helen Appleby is an executive coach with over a decade of experience helping leaders and teams thrive. Formerly a global VP, she is the author of the widely acclaimed book The Unwritten Rules of Women’s Leadership and is currently working on her next book, Leaders Health Check: How to Build Healthy High-Performing Teams. Her approach blends clarity, candor, and real-world practicality, making her a go-to guide for building trust and navigating workplace conflict. “Disagreements are normal, they’re natural. The trick is to disagree without breaking rapport.”  ~ Helen ApplebyToday on The Rising Leader:·     Clean escalation is about jointly deciding to raise an issue after real listening and honest curiosity about each other’s perspectives. ·     Dirty escalation—going behind someone’s back to complain to a boss or board—erodes trust, fuels toxicity, and wastes organizational energy. ·     Taking a step back and asking, “Whose team am I on?” reminds leaders to prioritize the success of the whole organization, not just their function. ·     Great leaders avoid triangulation and refuse to play parent when their direct reports run to them with complaints about each other. ·     Establishing shared language around trust, feedback, and conflict (like “grit in the pipes”) is critical to building psychological safety and team health. ·     Disagreement is inevitable, but learning to handle it maturely, without breaking relationships, sets high-performing teams apart. ·     Leaders must explicitly teach and model the expectation of clean escalation and collective accountability. ·     Self-awareness and feedback—for individuals and the whole team—are central to ongoing leadership and team development.Guest Contact Information: Connect with Helen Appleby on LinkedIn or visit HelenApplebyCoaching.com.Resources Mentioned:·      Book: The Unwritten Rules of Women’s Leadership by Helen Appleby Grab Your Copy of The Rising Leader Handbook Do you find yourself rising through your company's ranks so fast that you wish you had a manual to become an effective leader? Then, The Rising Leader Handbook is right for you. In The Rising Leader Handbook, you’ll learn how to shift your perspective and gain the leadership skills you need, regardless of the breadth of your responsibilities, by leveraging the relationships you’ve built with the CEO, the Leadership Team, and the team you lead as well as your relationship with yourself.Visit The Rising Leader Handbook: Turning High Achievers into Effective Leaders to grab your copy and start mastering your skills to become your team leader. Leader, It’s Time to Rise! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Rising Leader Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeart Radio Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more listeners like you. Join me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website.

 What if you're not at your best? We've all experienced those days where everything feels like an uphill battle, when no matter the effort, things don’t seem to fall into place. In this episode, I explore the challenges and essential strategies for handling those tough days with grace and introspection. Through personal stories, like my memorable encounter with a rushed and hungry surgeon, I reflect on the importance of self-care and understanding when it's crucial to pause, reassess, and adjust our approach to leadership when our capacity is compromised.My journey as an educator and mentor has taught me the value of emotional intelligence in navigating pressure. Being a leader often means maintaining composure, even when chaos might reign internally. I share how crucial it is to embrace those off days not as setbacks but as opportunities to recalibrate, ask for help, and be honest about our limitations with ourselves and our teams. Through my stories and insights, I aim to provide a roadmap for showing up effectively, even when we're not at our best. “If we can get grounded and centered and question, ‘what's needed in this situation?’” Today on The Rising Leader:Acknowledging when you’re not at your best and taking appropriate action is crucial.The paradox of pushing through versus knowing when to pause for personal care and reflection.The positive outcomes that stem from ensuring your emotional and physical readiness before tackling high-pressure responsibilities.Open communication can prevent misunderstandings when you're not performing at your peak.Seeking support and creating new agreements can alleviate pressure and improve outcomes.The value of using transparency to empower your team with context about your current state.Determining when a commitment requires your full capacity and when adjustments are necessary.Being truthful about your condition fosters understanding and minimizes potential negative impacts.Grab Your Copy of The Rising Leader HandbookDo you find yourself rising through your company's ranks so fast that you wish you had a manual to become an effective leader? Then, The Rising Leader Handbook is right for you.In The Rising Leader Handbook, you’ll learn how to shift your perspective and gain the leadership skills you need, regardless of the breadth of your responsibilities, by leveraging the relationships you’ve built with the CEO, the Leadership Team, and the team you lead as well as your relationship with yourself.Visit The Rising Leader Handbook: Turning High Achievers into Effective Leaders to grab your copy and start mastering your skills to become your team leader. Leader, It’s Time to Rise! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Rising Leader Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeart Radio Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more listeners like you. Join me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website.

In this episode of The Rising Leader, I had a conversation with Stephanie Chung, where we explored the challenges and strategies of modern leadership in today's rapidly changing environment. We focused on how leaders can effectively manage diverse teams, innovate strategically, and maintain composure in uncertain times. Stephanie shared practical advice on the importance of self-care, brain training for uncertainty, and the need for leaders to communicate transparently and consistently. Our discussion also covered the evolving dynamics of the workplace and the critical skills needed to lead successfully through complexity and change.Stephanie Chung is a groundbreaking leader with an illustrious career spanning over 30 years. Known for her strategic innovation and pioneering achievements, she broke barriers as the first African American to lead a private jet company. Stephanie has held pivotal roles at American Airlines, Flexjet, and Bombardier Aerospace, earning accolades like Adweek’s Women Trailblazers and Ebony’s Power 100 recognition. She authored "Ally Leadership: How to Lead People Who Are Not Like You," offering nuanced insights into leadership, diversity, and fostering inclusive environments. “Train the brain for uncertainty.” ~Stephanie Chung Today on The Rising Leader:·     Effective leadership requires embracing both challenges and change.·     To lead successfully, it's crucial to prioritize self-care and rest.·     Training your brain to handle uncertainty can enhance decision-making.·     Leadership involves managing diverse teams with varying needs and perspectives.·     Transparency and over-communication are essential for building trust.·     The concept of work-life balance may be outdated; prioritize life integration.·     Each leader must constantly evaluate and expand their leadership capabilities.·     In times of stress and change, leadership is both an opportunity and a responsibility. Connect with Stephanie Chung:·      Website: stephaniechung.com·      Social Media: @TheStephanieChung on various platforms·      Newsletter: Your Ally in Leadership (available on Substack)For more information on the science of leadership and success, check out Stephanie’s latest works and subscribe to her newsletter for insights drawn from neuroscience. Grab Your Copy of The Rising Leader Handbook Do you find yourself rising through your company's ranks so fast that you wish you had a manual to become an effective leader? Then, The Rising Leader Handbook is right for you. In The Rising Leader Handbook, you’ll learn how to shift your perspective and gain the leadership skills you need, regardless of the breadth of your responsibilities, by leveraging the relationships you’ve built with the CEO, the Leadership Team, and the team you lead, as well as your relationship with yourself.Visit The Rising Leader Handbook: Turning High Achievers into Effective Leaders to grab your copy and start mastering your skills to become your team leader. Leader, It’s Time to Rise! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Rising Leader Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeart Radio Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more listeners like you.

Navigating the art of influence, this week, I delve into the delicate balance between being an influencer and being influenced. Drawing from recent experiences onboarding three new clients who share the same enneagram type, I explore the challenges faced by driven, goal-oriented individuals. I also discussed how energy in a meeting can be shaped by mood and how to maintain composure amidst differing opinions. Anecdotes from my journey allow us to explore strategies for emotional intelligence thoroughly. I share insights that have shaped my approach, from empathic tendencies in reading a room to overcoming nervousness through grounding techniques. “In moments of contradiction, breathe, settle into your groundedness, and influence the direction of the room.” ~Mark J. Silverman This week on The Rising Leader:·     The impact of a leader's energy on a meeting ·     The journey from being influenced to becoming an influencer ·     Strategies for staying grounded in tense situations ·     The role of emotional intelligence in leadership ·     Techniques for handling public contradictions gracefully ·     The power of calm presence in leadership ·     The importance of breathing through fear ·     Embracing mistakes as a path to growth Grab Your Copy of The Rising Leader Handbook Do you find yourself rising through your company's ranks so fast that you wish you had a manual to become an effective leader? Then, The Rising Leader Handbook is right for you. In The Rising Leader Handbook, you’ll learn how to shift your perspective and gain the leadership skills you need, regardless of the breadth of your responsibilities, by leveraging the relationships you’ve built with the CEO, the Leadership Team, and the team you lead as well as your relationship with yourself.Visit The Rising Leader Handbook: Turning High Achievers into Effective Leaders to grab your copy and start mastering your skills to become your team leader. Leader, It’s Time to Rise! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Rising Leader Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeart Radio Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more listeners like you. Join me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website.

You've been with us as we dive into tough conversations about resilience and navigating uncertain times. In this episode, I brought on Gregory Vetter, a revolutionary entrepreneur who transformed a family recipe into Tessa Mae's, the leading organic salad dressing brand in the US, and pioneered clean food manufacturing. Gregory shares his remarkable entrepreneurial journey, detailing how he handled the trials that came with scaling a successful brand, investor infighting, and eventual turmoil, all while maintaining his integrity and leadership values. Gregory Vetter's resilience and perseverance make his story truly inspiring. Once an insurance seller searching for change, Gregory found his calling in the food industry, co-founding Alta Fresh Foods and establishing the Homegrown Brand Accelerator. In his book, "Undressed: The Unfiltered Story of My Failed American Dream and How It Led to Success," he candidly outlines how he turned setbacks into stepping stones towards his ultimate goal. Gregory's leadership philosophy centers around leaving things better than he found them and leading by example. “You have all the answers. You're just too scared to say them.” - Gregory Vetter This week on The Rising Leader:·     Understanding the struggles of entrepreneurship and leadership through Gregory’s story ·     How to find purpose and meaning in challenging times ·     The significance of cultivating a strong morning routine ·     Importance of having a trusted support system ·     Navigating the emotional reactions to professional setbacks ·     Pursuing personal growth through adversity ·     The role of literature and historical figures in gaining perspective ·     Balancing willpower and rational decision-making in overcoming obstacles Gregory Vetter's Contact Information:·      Website: GregoryVetter.com·      Instagram: @GLVetter·      LinkedIn: Gregory Vetter Resources Mentioned:·      Gregory Vetter’s book: "Undressed: The Unfiltered Story of My Failed American Dream and How It Led to Success"  Grab Your Copy of The Rising Leader Handbook Do you find yourself rising through your company's ranks so fast that you wish you had a manual to become an effective leader? Then, The Rising Leader Handbook is right for you. In The Rising Leader Handbook, you’ll learn how to shift your perspective and gain the leadership skills you need, regardless of the breadth of your responsibilities, by leveraging the relationships you’ve built with the CEO, the Leadership Team, and the team you lead as well as your relationship with yourself.Visit The Rising Leader Handbook: Turning High Achievers into Effective Leaders to grab your copy and start mastering your skills to become your team leader. Leader, It’s Time to Rise! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Rising Leader Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeart Radio Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more listeners like you. Join me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website. 

In this episode, I explore the profound connection between spirituality and leadership. Over the last 40 years, I've been on a deep spiritual journey that has greatly influenced my personal and professional life. From overcoming homelessness and addiction to writing "The Rising Leader," I've integrated my spiritual growth into understanding and teaching leadership dynamics.For the past few decades, my quest has been one of spiritual introspection, evolving significantly since turning 60. This journey has allowed me to question and understand complex spiritual concepts and their role in developing effective leadership skills. It's not just about religious values but a more profound, personal spiritual connection that influences how we lead and connect with others.“Spirituality in leadership means rising above automatic reactions  to effectively address challenges.” ~Mark SilvermanThis week on The Rising Leader:·     My journey and its integration with leadership·     Defining spirituality beyond religious labels·     Insights on emotional intelligence as a key leadership trait·     The importance of presence and self-inquiry·     Lessons from spiritual thinkers like Michael Singer and Ram Dass·     Reflect on how my spiritual journey has influenced my leadership style over several decades.·     Explore the role of emotional intelligence in creating strong, effective leadership.·     Discuss how spiritual insights encourage being present and handling challenges with clarity.·     Illustrate how spirituality helps leaders transcend automatic reactions to address problems more effectively.·     Draw from the teachings of Michael Singer and Ram Dass to reinforce the connection between spiritual growth and leadership development.·     Stress the importance of self-awareness in defusing difficult situations through asking insightful questions.·     Highlight that proper growth involves freeing oneself from what previously held one back.Resources Mentioned:Books: "The Untethered Soul", "Living Untethered", "The Surrender Experiment" by Michael SingerGrab Your Copy of The Rising Leader Handbook Do you find yourself rising through your company's ranks so fast that you wish you had a manual to become an effective leader? Then, The Rising Leader Handbook is right for you. In The Rising Leader Handbook, you’ll learn how to shift your perspective and gain the leadership skills you need, regardless of the breadth of your responsibilities, by leveraging the relationships you’ve built with the CEO, the Leadership Team, and the team you lead as well as your relationship with yourself.Visit The Rising Leader Handbook: Turning High Achievers into Effective Leaders to grab your copy and start mastering your skills to become your team leader. Leader, It’s Time to Rise! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Rising Leader Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeart Radio Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more listeners like you. Join me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website.

Michael Neill, an internationally renowned transformational teacher and CEO of Genius Catalyst, blends wisdom and humor as he discusses navigating uncertainty in our modern world. He emphasizes the distinction between reality and the stressful stories we create in our minds. Neill shares insights on transforming unpleasant thoughts into growth opportunities and the importance of compassion in learning. With personal anecdotes, he inspires listeners to reconnect with their inner guidance for a more fulfilling and peaceful life.

Have you ever thought about what truly drives effective leadership? For many, it isn't about wielding power with an iron fist; it's about creating a culture where people feel valued and safe. In this engaging episode, we delve into the inspiring journey of Garry Ridge, former CEO of the WD40 Company, who transformed a household name into a global success story, not through authoritarian command, but by fostering an environment of care, safety, and engagement.Garry Ridge, a distinguished thought leader, author, and former Chairman and CEO of WD40, shares his profound leadership insights emphasizing emotional intelligence and team culture. With over 35 years of experience, Gary has been at the helm of creating positive workplaces and is also an adjunct professor at the University of San Diego. His book, "Any Dumbass Can Do It," offers numerous learning moments from his leadership journey at WD40.“A leader cannot give their leftovers; each interaction deserves a full plate.” – Garry RidgeThis week on The Rising Leader:·      The significance of a clearly defined, authentic purpose·      How WD40 became one of the best companies to work for·      Creating a culture where employees feel safe and valued·      The difference between motivating and inspiring team members·      Why we must reduce fear in organizations for better engagement·      Insights into embracing failures as learning moments·      How to combat the current 'pandemic of loneliness'·      The personal journey to emotional intelligence and self-awarenessGuest Contact Information:·      Website: thelearningmoment.net·      LinkedIn: Garry Ridge on LinkedInResources Mentioned:·      Book: "Any Dumbass Can Do It: Learning Moments from an Everyday CEO at a Multibillion Dollar Company" by Garry Ridge·      Quiz: Master Your Dumbassery Quiz at thelearningmoment.netGrab Your Copy of The Rising Leader HandbookDo you find yourself rising through your company's ranks so fast that you wish you had a manual to become an effective leader? Then, The Rising Leader Handbook is right for you.In The Rising Leader Handbook, you’ll learn how to shift your perspective and gain the leadership skills you need, regardless of the breadth of your responsibilities, by leveraging the relationships you’ve built with the CEO, the Leadership Team, and the team you lead as well as your relationship with yourself.Visit The Rising Leader Handbook: Turning High Achievers into Effective Leaders to grab your copy and start mastering your skills to become your team leader. Leader, It’s Time to Rise! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Rising Leader Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeart Radio Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more listeners like you. Join me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website.